Child and Parent Anxiety Program

School anxiety is when children experience severe emotional distress about school. Some causes of school anxiety may be peer conflict, performance anxiety, bullying, fear of having a panic attack, separation from loved ones, transition to new school/grade/teacher, or worries about health.

Group therapy for young children 8+ struggling with school anxiety

The Child and Parent Anxiety Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) at Linden Oaks Behavioral Health offers evidence-based treatment approaches, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Exposure Therapy, to help children understand, regulate and tolerate their anxiety related to school refusal.

We treat children with school anxiety related to:

  • Severe anxiety about attending school
  • Struggling to stay in the classroom and/or going to nurse/student services often
  • Anxiety-related physical sensations, such as panic attacks, stomachaches, headaches, shaking or crying
  • Distress when asked to participate in the classroom
  • Difficulties separating from parents
  • Fear that something bad will happen at school

Participant requirements:

  • Child is going into 3rd through 5th grade
  • Parents must attend first hour of the program
  • Child has school anxiety and/or school refusal
  • Child is willing to participate in group
  • Exclusions: Children acutely at risk of harming themselves, have severe cognitive impairment, or the primary concern is oppositional behavior

Details:

  • Monday – Friday for 3 hours/day for 3 weeks
  • Naperville Outpatient Center, 1335 N. Mill Street, Naperville

For more information on our Child and Parent Anxiety program, please call the Linden Oaks Help Line 24/7 at 630-305-5027.

Linden Oaks locations